Pugazhenthi @ Puzhalenthi v. State

Crl.O.P.No.13944 of 2026IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 29.05.2026CORAMTHE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQCrl.O.P.No.13944 of 2026 Pugazhenthi @ Puzhalenthi ...PetitionerVs.State rep. by, The Sub-Inspector of Police, Orathur Police Station, Cuddalore – 608 201.(Crime No.14 of 2026) ...RespondentPrayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS & 438 of Cr.P.C., seeking to grant Anticipatory Bail to the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.14 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner: Ms.S.DeepikaFor Respondent: Mr.S.Yogaraja Sekar, Government Advocate (Criminal Side)ORDER The petitioner, who apprehends arrest at the hands of the respondent Police for the offences punishable under Sections 4(1)(C), 4(1)(A) & 14(A) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition (Amendment) Act in Crime No.14 of 2026 on the file of the respondent Police, seeks anticipatory bail.

Page No.1 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.13944 of 20262. The learned counsel for the petitioner, pleading innocence on the part of the petitioner and false implication in the case, seeks indulgence of this Court. She submits that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. She would further submit that even presuming without admitting that the petitioner was in illegal possession of liquor bottles, the same is wihtin permissible limit and that the petitioner is ready to abide by any stringent condition that may be imposed by this Court. Therefore she prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 3. The case of the prosecution as put forth by the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police, opposing for grant of anticipatory bail, is that the petitioner was found in illegal possession of 11 brandy bottles and that there is no previous antecedents against the petitioner.4.

Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for the respondent Police and perused the materials available on record and considering that there is no previous case pending against the petitioner and also considering the fact that the Page No.2 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.13944 of 2026quantity of liquor is within the permissible limit, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner with certain conditions. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of arrest or on his appearance, within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the order copy made ready, before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.II, Chidambaram on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Magistrate concerned, failing which, the petition for anticipatory bail shall stand dismissed and on further condition that: [a] the petitioner and the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank pass Book to ensure their identity;[b] the petitioner shall report before the respondent Police, daily at 10.30 a.m., until further orders;[c] the petitioner shall not tamper with evidence or witness either during investigation or trial;[d] the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial;[e] On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with Page No.3 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.13944 of 2026law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560];[f] If the accused thereafter absconds, a fresh FIR can be registered under Section 269 of B.N.S. 29.05.2026sktNote:

Registry is directed to forthwith upload this order on the Official Website of this Court.

All concerned to act on this order being uploaded on Official Website of this Court without insisting on certified hard copies. To be noted, this order when uploaded in the official website of this Court will be watermarked and will also have a QR code. Page No.4 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.13944 of 2026To:1.The Judicial Magistrate No.II, Chidambaram.2. The Sub-Inspector of Police, Orathur Police Station, Cuddalore – 608 201.

The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras. Page No.5 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.13944 of 2026MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J.sktCrl.O.P.No.13944 of 202629.05.2026Page No.6 of 6